Sunday, May 31

Frugal is SEXY!

Okay, on a first date, it might not be the ultimate turn-on to whip out a coupon (unless you're the one being taken out), but otherwise, frugality is pretty freakin' hot!

Tim has worked his way from spendthrift to frugal! And I gotta tell ya, it's pretty sexy! (Psst, J. Money, you should totally trademark the phrase, so that we all have to use "TM" and pay you money. Talk about budget-friendly!)

When I met Tim, he routinely overdrafted and that wasn't even the end of the fees. When his account stayed in the negative for more than a couple of days, he would get charged a daily $7 thanks the fuzzy, cuddly folks at U.S. Bank (boo! hiss!).

In addition, whenever he saw something he wanted, he got it. He could actually spend his whole paycheck in one day. (Luckily, I wasn't around for that part. I think I'd have fainted dead away. Or thrown up. And throwing up is NOT sexy!)

Over the past three years, though, he's been making huge strides. In fact, lately, he's been outdoing me!

We decided to splurge and see Up in 3D. Problem? Tickets were a whopping $14 each! (hat's $10.50 for the movie and $3.50 for the 3D format, in case you're interested.) Cringe-worthy to say the least.

Thankfully, Tim remembered that our beloved Entertainment Book had coupons for Regal Cinemas. It wasn't huge, but we managed to save $5 total on our entrance. Plus we got free popcorn and free soda, since it was the theater's grand opening.

But the savings don't stop there! Now every time we bite the bullet and pay for a movie at Regal, we'll bring our handy-dandy coupons with us. It will bring ticket prices down to $6.50 (with an extra $1.50 if we want to see a starred attraction). That means a savings of $8 any time we go to a non-AMC theater. Ka-ching!

Of course, this isn't the only time that Tim has shown an interest in saving money. Something just seems to have really clicked lately. He was trying to be diligent before, but it was always an effort. Now I find him saying things like, "I'm just trying to help you not spend money unnecessarily." (How HOT is that?!)

Recently, we were at QFC, and ice cream was on sale for $2.88. Since we were going to Safeway right after, I suggested we get the ice cream there, so it wouldn't melt in the car. I said it was $2.99 there. He said -- get this -- "Well, yeah, but 10 ten cents or so can really add up over time."

It was all I could do to not whirl around, grab him, dip him, and kiss him right there in the frozen foods. On second thought, maybe I should have at least tried: positive reinforcement and all. On third thought, though, I'm not strong enough to dip him; and I don't think there's much positive reinforcement in getting dropped by your wife onto a hard linoleum floor. Romance in the modern age is tough!

Seriously, though, I'm just incredibly impressed by how diligent Tim is being. He and I have started having dialogues about purchases that I don't start. Before he would just listen to what I had to say, nod and then we'd go put the plan into action. Now, he engages me in discussion and helps me brainstorm other ways to save -- or to do without the item entirely.

It's clear he's really gotten into this frugal thing. He's eager to help save money, and even more eager to avoid future debt as much as possible. He even told me that he wants to be able to pay cash when we buy a car.

I'm just so proud of how far he's come on the financial side of things. Sure, some of it is reflected glory, since I have been pushing him. But mostly it's just a testament to his determination and willpower. He has changed -- or at least tamed -- his spending ways. He's started seeing a light at the end of the tunnel: a debt-free life. He's done it for me, but also for himself and mainly for our life together.

3 Comments:

Hmm, speaking from the experience of having an older brother who was willing to lie about spotting you during back bends, linoleum is slightly better than concrete. Concrete gives you a more resounding headache.

And didn't you love Up?? I have my own money saving post up about it today, but I thought it was so very well done! And the short preceding the movie was hilarious as well.

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About Me

My husband and I both have chronic health problems that have put us in debt, both because of doctor bills and from a reduced ability to work. We've moved to Phoenix, which has helped some of my husband's conditions. But it will be awhile before we can truly be out of debt.

I write this blog because not everyone frivolously consumed his way into debt. Not everyone can be, as I like to say, the Martha Stewart of frugality.

I try to use my blog to explore frugality in an imperfect world, because I think that's a lot more realistic. Even people without chronic health problems can have life overrun their best frugal intentions.